Russia’s Drone Barrage Targets Odesa Amid Winter Power Offensive

Russian forces launched another overnight drone attack on southern Ukraine early Tuesday, targeting infrastructure in the Odesa region, local authorities said.

The Kremlin has stepped up attacks on Ukraine’s power grid in recent months, damaging energy and natural gas facilities that supply much of the country’s heating fuel.

According to the Odesa regional administration and Ukraine’s State Emergency Service, air defenses were active throughout the night, but several civilian energy and transport facilities were damaged.

Fires broke out at multiple energy sites but were quickly contained by emergency crews, officials said.

The attack also caused destruction at a Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian Railways) depot and several administrative buildings.

One person suffered shrapnel injuries and received medical treatment, according to preliminary reports.

Some critical infrastructure facilities are now operating on backup generators, and the region has opened “points of invincibility” to assist residents affected by power outages.

Law enforcement agencies are documenting what they described as another Russian war crime against civilians in the Odesa region.

Deputy Energy Minister Mykola Kolesnyk said Monday that the situation in Ukraine’s power system remains critical after Russia fired 45 missiles and 458 drones on Saturday in one of the most complex barrages since the full-scale invasion began.

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He said Russia deliberately targeted key components of Ukraine’s energy network using intelligence data, including substations supplying the Khmelnytsky and Rivne nuclear power plants.

Those facilities were forced to temporarily reduce output to avoid accidents and large-scale blackouts.

“Russia is using intelligence data to hit the most vulnerable parts of our energy grid,” Kolesnyk said. “The goal is to destabilize the system ahead of winter.”

Emergency power outages have been introduced in several regions, with many Ukrainians –particularly in Kyiv – now having electricity for no more than 7 to 8 hours a day.